The rally that labor unions are planning in Lansing on Tuesday is already leading to some school closings due to the number of employees who are expecting to attend.

Warren Consolidated Schools has called off school for Tuesday because so many staffers have notified the district that they expect to be absent, according to a letter from Superintendent Robert Livernois. “The entire district will be closed just like when we have a snow day,” Livernois wrote. “While I understand this is somewhat unusual, my number one priority is student safety and without an adequate number of staff members we cannot hold school.”

Taylor School District sent out an automated call today to parents cancelling classes due to expected high staff absenteeism. And Warren Fitzgerald Public Schools canceled classes for the same reason, according to their website.

Teachers and school employees statewide are expected to join other labor unions in Lansing to protest as the House debates and possibly takes a final vote on the Workplace Fairness and Equity Act on Tuesday. The bill is expected to pass and would make it illegal to require financial support of a union as a condition of employment. Labor unions call the bill an attempt to bust unions to make Michigan the 24th right-to-work state.

The largest teacher’s union local unit – the Detroit Federation of Teachers – is not planning to take busloads of teachers to Lansing, but is encouraging teachers to go. Asked whether teacher absences can be expected to close school in Detroit, DFT President Keith Johnson said, “Hopefully.”